Carrying system



v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(N0 Model Z. S. HOLBROOK.

CARRYING SYSTEM.

No. 282,893. Patented Aug. 7, 1883.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2'.

Z-. S. HOLBROOK. CARRYING SYSTEM.

Patent ed Aug. 7, 1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

ZEPHANIAH S. HOLBROOK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CARRYING SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 282,893,. dated August'7, 1883.

Application filed February 19, 18F3. (No model.)

To all whom it 777/1111] concern:

This invention relates to carrying systems more particularly adapted forstore service, having ways extending from a cashiers desk ormain stationto a number of subordinate stations, carriers adapted to move on saidways, and devices at the several stations for delivering the carrierfrom the said way at desired points. It relates more particularly tomeans for propelling or moving the carriers on the way. Heretofore thecarriers haye been moved by a continuously-acting force, as by gravity,in the use of an inclined plane, by a motor attached to the carrieritself, or by a moving rope or chain to which the carriers are attached.

The object of this invention is to provide means for propelling ormoving the carriers on the way without the use of suchcontinuously-acting force; and it consists in the matters hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims. Y

The invention consists, essentially, of means for projecting thecarriers along the track fronr a'starting point or station, or, in otherwords, for giving them an initial impetus sufficient to carry them toany point desired on the way.

As a means of carrying out my invention, I have provided, at'stations onthe way from which it is desired to send the carriers, a spring whichmay be compressed, or other device in which power may be stored, so thatit may be suddenly exerted to drive the carrier, and such spring may becompressed, or power otherwise stored, either by the operator, by thesurplus force exerted in raising an elevator to the track, or from anyother available source of power. Means are also provided for graduatingthe impetus given to the carriers at the several stations according tothe distance to be traversed by them.

For the purpose of illustrating my inven-- tion I have shown it inconnection with a track or way upon which hollow spherical carriers arearranged to move, in which carriers the article to be conveyed isplaced;andI have shown, in connection with such track, an elevator ateach station on the way for raising the carriers to I the track. "Meansare also shown, in con nection with such elevator, for compressing aspring in the operation of raising the elevator to the track, andautomatic devices for releasing thesprin'g, so as to project the carrierwhen it has reached the track.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view of a portion of a way, showinga cashiers desk or main station and three subsidiary stations, and meansfor projecting the carriers as proposed by my invention. Fig. 2 is aplan view of two ways-one for the passage of carriers from the mainstation to the several subordinate stations, and the other for thepassage of carriers from the subordinate stations to the main station.Figs. 3, 4,and 5 are enlarged detail views of the devices at one of thestations, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Figs. 6 and Tare views of thedevices at one of the sta tions in which the carrier is impelled bycompressed air. Fig. 8 is asimilar view, showing a device for operatingthe spring by hand.

A. and B, Figs. 1 and 2, are tracks or ways leading from the mainstation past the several subordinate or salesmen s stations, the track Abeing used for the passage of carriers from the subordinate stations tothe main station, and the track B for the return of said carriers to thestation from which they are sent.

For the purpose of delivering carriers returning from the main station.from the track B at their appropriate stations, switches I3 are used,which may be opened by wires b from the main station in the manner shownin Fig. 2, or in any other desirable or convenient manner. The devicesshown in said figure for discharging the carriers from the way at theirappropriate stations have been described and claimed in an applicationfor a patent previou-sly. made by me, and form no part of thisinvention.

For the purpose of impelling carriers from the cashiers desk to theseveral stations on the track 13,1 have provided at the said cashiersdesk a spring, B, Fig. 2, which is constructed to act by its expansionto give an inn petus to the carriers sufficient to carry them to thestation for which they are intended.

Said spring, as shown in said figure, is placed upon a sliding rod, 13,having bearings in standardsb b and is arranged between a disk, I)", onsaid rod B and one of the standards, If, so that by drawing said rodback the spring is compressed. In the operation of the device shown therod is drawn back by the hand, the carrier placed in front of it on theway, and the rod released. The amount of compression in the springisindicated by ascale, as shown, so that the force exerted in itsexpansion will correspond with the distance to be traversed by thecarrier. A suitable" catch may be provided, if preferred, to hold therod B back until the carrier has been placed in position, which catchmaybe moved so as to release the spring at any moment desired.

, In Figs. 1., 2, 3, 4, and 5 is shown a device for impelling thecarriers, in which the power for the purpose is stored in a spring whichis compressed by the operation of raising the elevator to the track. Ateach station on the way A is placed a vertically-movable elevator-box,G, which slides 011 rods 0 c, and in which the carriers to be elevatedto the track are placed. D is one of the spherical carriers,

and the bracket C is placed a coiled spring, F.

At the rear of the elevator-box, and outside of the bracket 0 upon therod E, is an upwardly-projecting arm, E to the upper end of which arm,and parallel with the rod E, is attached'a forwardly-projecting rod orplunger, E. The said plunger projects centrally through the interior ofthe elevator-box when the spring is expanded, as shown in Fig. 3, andwhen the rod E is drawn back and the spring compressed its front end isflush with the back wall of said box, so that a carrier placed in saidbox will rest near or against said end. The rear end of the rod E isextended rearwardly beyond the arm E, and is provided at its extremitywith frictionroller, 0, Figs. 3 and 5. Said roller is arranged to actupon an inclined piece, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so that when theelevator is raised the spring will be drawn back thereby. The inclinedpiece G is attached to-the footboard 0" at its lower end, and isattached to the track structure at its upper end. The portion of suchinclined piece against which the roller 6 rests terminates below thetrack,

and in such position that the said roller will.

pass from the-end of the same and release the spring at the moment thebottom of the elevatorfbox reaches the level of the track.

In order to allow the roller eto pass to the outside of the incline Gwhen it descends, the portion of such incline upon which the rollerrests is pivoted at g, forming a gate, 91, which is kept closed, so asto make the-incline continuous, by a spring, f, but which will open bythe pressure of the said roller against its reverse side, and allow saidroller to pass through it. The springs F are made of varying strength orstiffness at the different stations, so that those at the stations morere mote from the main station will exert agreater force in projectingthe carrier than those nearer to the said main station.

As the plunger E is in its forward position when the elevator-box is atthe lower limit of its movement, the carrier cannot at such time beplaced in position in front of it. I have therefore placed upon theelevator-box a laterally-projecting pocket, 0, in which the carrier isplaced while the elevator is being raised, and from which it will rollinto the'proper position in front of the plunger E when the said plungeris drawn back. The pocket 0" has a transversely-inclined bottom, 0,slopingtoward the bottom of the elevator-box, and the carrier, whenplaced in said pocket, rest-s against the side'of the plunger E, asshown in Fig. 4, until, by the withdrawal of said plunger,'it is free toroll down said incline to its position in front of the plunger. Thebottom of the ele vator-box is preferably provided with a recess, c", inwhich the carrier rests, in order to retain it in place laterally, andthe sides of said recess are arranged in line with the inner sides ofthe rails a a, so that the carrier, when acted upon by the expansion ofthe spring,

will roll smoothly from the elevator-box to the said rails. As theelevator rises through and in line with the rails of the track, it isnecessary to provide a means of making the track continuous when theelevator is lowered, in order to allow the passage of carriers past thestation. For this purpose I have provided a section of track, A,which ispivoted at one end at a, and which is arranged to be lifted by theelevator, when said elevator is raised to the track, and which fallswhen the elevator is lowered, so as to make the track continuous. Suchpivoted section is shown at the station at the left hand in Fig. l asopen and at the other station as closed.

In Figs. 6 and 7 means. are shown for impelling the carrier by theaction of compressed air, the air being compressed by the upwardmovement of the elevator. In these figures, O is the elevator-box, whichis provided with a cylindrical aperture, G, in line with the track, andin which the spherical carrier fits. Beneath the elevator-box O isplaced a cylinder,

0 which is provided with an airtight piston, I

tical rod, 0, and is kept normally closed by a spring, 0, on said rod.To the piston E is attached a toothed rod, E, which projects beyond theopen end of the cylinder 0 and engages a pinion, upon a cross-shaft, F,placed in bearings f f on the elevator-box. Upon the shaft F is alsoS1)II1':W1'1661, F, which meshes with a vertical ra'ckbar, G, extendingfrom the vicinity of the track'to a point near the lower limit of themovement of the elevator-box. The piston E is provided with an inwardlyopening valve, c. When the elevatorboX is lowered, the piston isdrawn out by the gearing described acting 011 the rack G, and air entersthe cylinderthrough said valve 6. Upon raising the elevator-box thepiston is pushed in' and the valve 0 is closed, thus compressing the airin the cylinder. Upon the inner face of the piston Dis a projectingpiece, 0, having an inclined upper surface, which is constructed tostrike the lower end of the rod 0' and open the valve 0 at the momentthat the elevator-box reaches the track. The carrier is placed in theaperture 0 before the elevator-box is raised to the track, and the air,being released from the cylinder 0 and entering behind it, drives itforcibly out and along the said track to its destination.

In Fig. 8 an elevator is shown which is provided with a spring arrangedto be eompressed by the operator when the elevatorbox is at the lowerend of its movement. In the said figure the elevator-box C is providedat its rear side with a cross-bar, 0, through which passes a rod, E,having upon its end a disk, 6, between which disk and the bar 0 thespring D is compressed. A knob or handle, E, is provided on the oppositeend of the rod E, by which it may be drawn back, and upon the disk 6 isa downwardly-projecting portion, c, which is constructed to engage aspring-detent, f, placed upon a pivoted shaft, F, upon the rear of theelevator-box. The end of the shaft F is formed into a crank-arm, E,which is'bent downwardly and forwardly, and has a laterally-projectingend, f, which is arranged to strike the under side of the side pieces, aof the track structure at the moment the bottom of the elevator-boxreaches the level of the track, thereby throwing the detentf down.

and releasing the rod E.

The air in the cylinder shown in Figs. 6 and 7 may be compressed by theoperator in the manner described in connection with the spring F; ormeans other than those mentioned may be used for compressing either thesprings described or air,- either when the elevator is at the bottom ofits movement or when raised to the track.

Instead of attaching the devices for giving an initial impulse to thecarriers to the elevator-box, as described and shown in the severalfigures, such devices may be attached to the track at each of thestations, and operated either directly by the operator, by the raisingof the elevator, or by any other means of applying power to accomplishthe purpose, as maybe found desirable or convenient.

Instead of using a spiral spring, as shown and described, either on theelevator or upon the track structure, any other form of spring or weightmay be used 5 and instead of giving an initial impulse by means of powerstored in a local device, such impulse may be given by power applied atany station from a distance, or from a convenient point of supply to allstations, as by pneumatic or steam pressme.

A straight track is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, upon which the, sphericalcarriers described move. In case the track is curved I place suitableguards or strips upon the outside edge of the track, against which thecarriers run, and which prevent them from leaving the track at suchcurve.

Although I have illustrated my invention as applied to a carrying systemusing spherical carriers and tracks adapted to receive them,

yet my invention can as well be applied to other carrying systems, aswhere a single rail is used and the carriage suspended from a wheel orwheels resting on said rail.

- I claim as my invention 1. In a carrying system, the combination, witha horizontal track or way and carriers adaptedto move on said way, ofmeans for giving an impetus to said carriers, for the purpose ofimpelling them upon said way, substantially as described.

2. In a carrying system, the combination, with a way and carriersadapted to move on said way, of means constructed to'give an initialimpetus to said carriers graduated according to the distance to betraversed by said carriers, substantially as described.

3. In a carrying system, the combination, with a way and carriersadapted to move on said way, of a stationary spring constructed vandarranged to give an impetus to said carriers, for the purpose ofimpelling them on the said way, substantially as described.

4. In a carrying system, the combination, with a way and carriersadapted to move 011 said way, of a spring placed ata point or station onsaid way, and constructed and arranged to impel the carriers thereon,together with means for graduating the effect of said spring accordingto the distance to be traversed by the carriers, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a carrying system, the combination, with a way and carriersadapted to move on said way, of springs constructed to give an impetusto said carriers, placed at one or more stations or points on said way,and graduated according to the distance to be traversed by the carriers,substantially as described.

6. In a carying system, the combination, with a way and carriers adaptedto move on said way, of a stationary spring constructed to impel saidcarriers on the way, means for compressing said spring, and means'forreleasing it, substantially as described.

7. In a carrying system, the combination, with a horizontal track orway, carriers adapted to move on said way, and elevators for raisingsaid carriers to the way, of means operated by the movement of theelevator for impelling the carriers on the way, substantially asdescribed.

8. In a carrying system, the combination, with a way, carriers adaptedto move on said way, and an elevator for raising said carriers to the\vay, of a spring constructed to impel the carriers,-means forcompressing the spring operated by the movement of the elevator, andmeans for releasing the spring, substantially as described.

9. In a carrying system, the combination, with a way, carriers adaptedto move 011 said way, and an elevator for raising said carriers to theway, of a spring attached to said eleva tor, and constructed to impel acarrier therefrom by its expansion, means operated by the movement ofsaid elevator for compressing said spring, and means for releasing saidspring, substantially as described.

10. In a carrying system, the combination, with a way, carriersconstructed to move on said way, and an elevator for raising thecarriers to the way, of a plunger, a spring for actuating the plunger,and an incline constructed to retract said spring and plunger andrelease them when the carrier reaches the way, substantially asdescribed.

11. In a carrying system, the combination, witha way, carriersconstructed to move on said way, and an elevator for raising thecarriers to the way, of a spring, a plunger connected therewith, anincline constructed to re: tract said spring and plunger, and a rodconnected to said spring and arranged to engage said incline,substantially as described.-

' 12. In a carrying system, the combination, with a way, carriersconstructed to move on said way, and an elevator for raising the car--riers to the way, of a spring, a plunger connected therewith, an inclineconstructed to retract said spring and plunger, a rod connected to saidspring and arranged to engage the incline, and a pivoted gate, 9', insaid incline, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

13. I11 the. elevator of a carrying system, substantially as described,the combination, with a spring-actuated plunger, of a lateral incline,C, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aflix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

ZEPHANIAH s. HOLBROOK.

Vitnesses O. CLARENCE POOLE, JEssE Cox, Jr.

